The Telegraph ^ | 2/25/2011 | Thomas Harding
They have also warned that the chances of an operation to rescue civilians from a conflict like Libya would become remote in the coming months as more and more equipment is pushed out of service under defence cuts.
Their comments come after Forces chiefs warned the Prime Minister that cuts to Harrier jets and aircraft carrier Ark Royal would put personnel at “considerable risk”.
The Army has only one battalion on standby for emergency operations called the Spearhead Lead Element and this is said to be struggling to get the correct equipment for training.
The Army has only one battalion on standby for emergency operations
With most of 3 Commando Brigade deploying to Helmand in the coming weeks the only amphibious unit left behind is 40 Commando which is still recovering from an extremely tough tour of Sangin in Helmand last summer.
The enduring operation in Afghanistan, with 10,000 troops committed, also means that the Forces have very few “enablers” who help with logistics and other key areas.
Serving Navy officers believe that the Libyan emergency highlights how depleted the Forces will become after the cuts have taken hold.
This year the fleet will lose four Type 22 frigates including Cumberland that helped evacuate some British citizens. But in addition to the loss of its flagship Ark Royal and the Harriers the Navy’s amphibious force will be cut in half by the mothballing of the landing ship Bulwark and other craft.
“We have cut our cloth very small and if we bit off more than we could chew we would be in trouble,” said one officer.
“We certainly could not do an operation like Sierra Leone again because we have no fast jets. Even to achieve and sustain a foothold ashore would be difficult.”
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